why you have to take an mcat prep course

by Miss Karli Mann 3 min read

MCAT Prep courses are probably only worth it if you need structure, support and don't feel confident self-studying for the MCAT. Many students score well on the exam without ever having taken (or paid a lot of money for) a course. It's definitely not a necessity.

Full Answer

Should I take an MCAT prep course?

MCAT prep courses are a great way to learn new material and refresh yourself on old material. Some factors to consider might be your budget, learning style, and self-discipline. MCAT prep courses will help identify strengths and weaknesses, simulate the actual test, and provide a study plan.

What is the best way to study for the MCAT?

Magoosh offers a 1-month, 3-month, and 6-month study plan. While the study plan is not as customizeable as the one Blueprint offers, it still gives you tasks to complete everyday and helps make studying for the MCAT more manageable.

What is the Magoosh MCAT prep course?

The course is self-paced and completely online but includes study schedules to keep students on track. Magoosh MCAT covers all MCAT subjects and focuses specifically on subjects and topics that will appear the most on the MCAT. This Magoosh prep course is compatible with all computers, tablets, and smart phones.

Where can I get a free MCAT test?

Luckily, Next Step offers an MCAT diagnostic test for free. (They also include the diagnostic and full-length practice test for free if you sign up for one of their courses.)

Do I need to take an MCAT prep course?

Not Everyone Needs an MCAT Prep Course Some people will be able to self-study for the MCAT just fine. In that case, no, you don't need a full MCAT prep course. But you can't know until you get started. To figure out whether or not a course makes sense to you, the first thing to do is to take a diagnostic MCAT test.

When should I take the MCAT prep course?

We generally recommend that students give themselves at least three to five months to prepare for the MCAT. As such, if you want to test in January or March, then you'll want to get started in September or October.

Is the MCAT self prep course worth it?

Given their solid lessons, helpful organization of materials, flashcards, and other fairly impressive resources, we think MCAT Self Prep is a good choice for personalized, self-guided MCAT preparation on a budget.

What is MCAT prep course?

MCAT-Prep.com — Best Online Course Courses and tests simulate the real exam and results include study tips and comprehensive explanations for wrong answers. Learners can access practice tests online for free or purchase a paid membership to access extra tests and on-demand courses.

Is a 520 A good MCAT score?

Attaining a score of 520 on the MCAT means you performed in the 98% percentile. An even distribution for the section scores is preferred.

Is MCAT Tutoring worth it?

An MCAT tutor can be especially valuable for students who are looking to retake the MCAT. It's often hard to assess why you did not get the score you needed to be a competitive candidate, and a great tutor can help you find your weak spots and provide guidance on how to overcome them.

How much do people spend on MCAT prep?

Students can access free online prep courses through providers like MCAT Self Prep while some of the more expensive courses offered by providers like Kaplan, Altius, and The Princeton Review can cost between $6,999 and $9,999 including one-on-one tutoring.

Which MCAT course is best?

Best MCAT Prep Courses SummaryBest Overall MCAT Prep Course: Blueprint MCAT.Most Immersive MCAT Prep: Altius.Best Value MCAT Prep Course: Magoosh.Best MCAT Live Online Classes: Princeton Review.The Popular MCAT Pick: Kaplan.Most MCAT Study Material: Gold Standard.

Are MCAT books expensive?

“What you really need to keep up with the Joneses on the MCAT prep is more like $300, not $3,000.” So Bryan pegs it $300 to about $600 to get the AAMC material and get your Next Step full-length practice tests. And then either borrow a set of books or use the Khan Academy.

Can you self study for MCAT?

You have many options when it comes to MCAT studying, you can self-study or you can take a prep course. Both options can be effective, but you should consider your goals and circumstances to choose the best path for you. One of the hallmarks in any pre-medical journey is taking the MCAT.

How many hours study for MCAT?

Most people need 10–15 hours per week to study for the MCAT over a period of at least four to six months . In total, you should aim for at least 200 to 300 hours of MCAT study time.

Should I start studying for the MCAT in high school?

Ideally, students should give themselves at least six months to prepare for the MCAT. They can begin their preparation by taking a practice exam to familiarize themselves with the test, and to get a good idea of their strong and weak areas.

What is the blueprint MCAT?

Blueprint MCAT (formerly Next Step Test Prep) has built into their course a study schedule planning tool. Simply enter the date of your test, the day you’re beginning your MCAT prep, and which days you can’t study.

Is the MCAT a good investment?

Nevertheless, an MCAT course is a great investment if you are going to take it seriously. Recently, I did a review of the Next Step MCAT Course, which I think is the best course available.

Is the MCAT weaker than the other sections?

Most students that take the MCAT have one section that’s weaker than others. It’s essential to focus on your weakest areas first before improving on an almost perfect score so you can bump up your average.

Should I study for MCAT before the exam?

It’s discouraged to do all of your MCAT studying directly before the exam, but sometimes our schedules become chaotic. If you have a month or less to study, you’ll have a difficult time preparing, even with a prep course.

Session 10

In this week’s episode, we talk all about MCAT prep courses. Do you really need to take an MCAT prep course or can you just self-study? What are the main factors to take into consideration when you’re deciding?

Not Everyone Needs an MCAT Prep Course

Some people will be able to self-study for the MCAT just fine. In that case, no, you don’t need a full MCAT prep course. But you can’t know until you get started.

Can You Raise Your Score Enough with Self-Study?

If you’re naturally good at standardized tests and you only need to bring your score up a few points from your diagnostic, then you don’t need a course. In that case, you can just self-study.

Why is it important to take the MCAT?

This is because the MCAT covers a broad spectrum of premed courses and every individual is going to have strength and weaknesses in different areas. Therefore, when you take an MCAT prep course you may spend more time on subjects you ...

Is it cheaper to take the MCAT?

If you are planning to take an MCAT prep course consider this option. It is a lot cheaper! Keep in mind, MCAT courses run by the University instead of an MCAT company might not be as valuable. College professors don’t always have experience with how the MCAT likes to present their material.

Can you take a self-paced MCAT?

If you take an MCAT Prep Course you will more or less be confined to their schedule. ( Unless you take a self-paced course!) All pre-meds are going to have a different schedule when it comes to the MCAT. Some students will want to study during the school year for an extended period of time while others will want to cram it over ...

I did it. Follow for updates

I emailed Sen. Elizabeth Warren a long email regarding AAMCs actions during the pandemic. She contacted them last year and I wanted to bring her attention to all the issues.

Yupppp

The #1 social media platform for MCAT advice. The MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) is offered by the AAMC and is a required exam for admission to medical schools in the USA and Canada. /r/MCAT is a place for MCAT practice, questions, discussion, advice, social networking, news, study tips and more.

Why is MCAT prep important?

The MCAT is challenging, and high scores are critical. MCAT prep courses are a great way for students to refresh their knowledge on multiple topics while also learning new material. MCAT prep courses will help students become more comfortable taking the MCAT by offering strategies and test taking tips.

What is the purpose of MCAT prep?

MCAT prep courses are a great way to learn new material and refresh yourself on old material. Some factors to consider might be your budget, learning style, and self-discipline. MCAT prep courses will help identify strengths and weaknesses, simulate the actual test, and provide a study plan.

How much does the Dr Flowers MCAT cost?

Dr. Flowers MCAT offers 3 different pricing options. The first one is an 8-week course available for $299. The second one is a 12-week course available for $419. The third one is a 16-week course available for $539 and the one we reviewed.

How long does it take to study for the MCAT?

It is recommended that students give themselves adequate time to prepare for the MCAT (6-12 months). MCAT prep courses are a great way to stay on track when studying for the MCAT.

How much does Princeton Review cost for MCAT?

The Princeton Review offers a very thorough MCAT prep course. The online, self-paced course retails for $1499 and is available to students for 12 months. The course features 1000’s of free-standing and passage-based questions – all of which have detailed answer explanations.

Is MCAT prep expensive?

Budget MCAT prep courses can get expensive. If money is tight, consider our best value recommendation, or self-study with MCAT prep books. Learning style – if you have a history of successfully studying with books, a self-study approach with a good MCAT prep book may be your best plan.

Is MCAT prep course good?

If your score needs improvement, an MCAT prep course may be a good option. Need for encouragement – if you need encouragement, feedback and motivation, a prep course with an instructor (either in-person or online) is a good option. Budget – MCAT prep courses can get expensive. If money is tight, consider our best value recommendation, ...

Why is it important to take prerequisites for MCAT?

Taking an actual course for one of the subjects on the MCAT gives you the opportunity to really understand the material. This is important because the hardest challenge of the MCAT is time.

What is the MCAT?

The MCAT mainly tests your ability to take tests like the MCAT. Less time spent reviewing the actual content means more time studying practice exams and problems and ultimately getting into that very important MCAT mindset.

Can I take all the prereqs for the MCAT?

If you can’t take all of the prereqs before studying for the MCAT, it’s not the end of the world. From what I experienced, the test blends the subjects together into a more comprehensive type of exam, so you can get away with knowledge from other courses to help fill in the gaps.

Do I need to take the MCAT before the MCAT?

Technically speaking, not all the MCAT prerequisites are necessary to take before the MCAT. Theoretically, you could take the MCAT with none of the prereqs, but I wouldn’t recommend that.

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Session 10

Not Everyone Needs An MCAT Prep Course

  • Some people will be able to self-study for the MCAT just fine. In that case, no, you don’t need a full MCAT prep course. But you can’t know until you get started. To figure out whether or not a course makes sense to you, the first thing to do is to take a diagnostic MCAT test. Luckily, Next Stepoffers an MCAT diagnostic test for free. (They also in...
See more on medicalschoolhq.net

Can You Raise Your Score Enough with self-study?

  • If you’re naturally good at standardized tests and you only need to bring your score up a few points from your diagnostic, then you don’t need a course.In that case, you can just self-study. If you really think you’re going to need more help, then decide whether you want to start out by self-studying or if you want to go directly to a course.
See more on medicalschoolhq.net

Links and Other Resources

  1. Check out my book about the MCAT, co-written with Blueprint MCAT (formerly Next Step Test Prep): The Premed Playbook: Guide to the MCAT.
  2. Related episode: Which MCAT Prep Materials Are Best for Me?
  3. Related episode: How to Best Use Flashcards to Study for the MCAT.
  4. Need MCAT Prep? Save on tutoring, classes, and full-length practice tests by using promo co…
  1. Check out my book about the MCAT, co-written with Blueprint MCAT (formerly Next Step Test Prep): The Premed Playbook: Guide to the MCAT.
  2. Related episode: Which MCAT Prep Materials Are Best for Me?
  3. Related episode: How to Best Use Flashcards to Study for the MCAT.
  4. Need MCAT Prep? Save on tutoring, classes, and full-length practice tests by using promo code “MSHQ” for 10% off Next Step full-length practice tests or “MSHQTOC” for $50 off MCAT tutoring or the N...